Shaving mechanism



Patented Sept. 28, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE January 15, 1945.

1949, Serial No. 104,340

13 Claims.

My invention relates generally to cutlery and particularly to a shaving razor. Most particularly, my invention relates to an electric razor, that is a razor having relatively movable parts actuated by an electric motor means to effect shearingthe user merely moving the razor over the skin surface to be shaved.

Many of the general objects of my present invention are mentioned in my United States Letters Patent No. 2,367,686 issued January 23, 1945, this application being a continuation of application Serial No. 572,807 filed January 15, 1945, and since abandoned.

I have found it desirable, when using cooperating rotary and stationary cutter members engaging in a shearing cut contact, to maintain such contact with a minimum of interruption always, however, with provisions for assuring a maximum of freedom from injury to the user. One of the objects of my present invention is to supply improved means whereby this may be accomplished.

Another of the objects of the present invention is to reduce the wear upon the cutting elements through reduced interruption of contact, thereby increasing the cutting effectiveness of the razor, without increasing the danger of injury.

Another of my present objects is to provide an improved construction whereby the abovementioned shearing advantages and safety provisions are combined with provisions enabling longer beard-ends to be cut oil without an undesirable folding or thrusting back of the beardends upon themselves or into the skin.

In addition to the above stated general objects and corollary thereto, my invention has for one of its particular objects to provide a new and improved motor actuated rotary cutter member of cylindrical form adapted to be applied directly to a bearded skin. It is a further particular object of my invention to provide a rotary cutter member having a plurality of ridge-like portions of arcuate continuity extending coaxially about and radially projecting from the members lateral surface, the spacing between adjacent ridge-like portions being such that only beard hairs are permitted ingress to the space between adjacent ridge-like portionsto th exclusion from said space of skin areas, both immediate and remote from the bases of the interspace protruding beard hairs. Thus, a rotary cutter member embodying my invention is characterized by having its ridge-like portions spaced a distance determined by that space required to allow protrusion of beard hairs into the space between adjacent This application July 12,

ridge-lik portions without permitting intrusion into said space of skin area, both that which is immediate and remote to the bases of the interspace protruding beard hairs.

More particularly, my invention has for an object to provide a rotary cutter member characterized by the fact that the spacing between adjacent ridge-like portions is of a dimensional magnitude between 1000 and 1000 inch.

I acknowledge that one of my predecessors in the shaving instrument art, namely I-Iiskey of United States Letters Patent No. 1,033,321, has suggested the use of a ridged, cylindrical rotary cutter member adapted to be motor actuated and applied directly for shaving to the bearded skin. Hiskey, however, designed the spacing of his adjacent ridges so that the skin area immediate to the bases of the interspace protruding beard hairs to be out also protrudes into the space between the ridges. This condition of allowing interspace skin protrusion was essential to the operation of the I-Iiskey shaver. Further, by reason of the position of the Hiskey cutting blades against the lateral surfac of his cylindrical member and the absence of a stationary cutter in cooperating and bridging relation with the rotary cutter, the so protruding skin area was not placed in any unusual peril of being cut in the Hiskey razor. However, I-Iiskeys construction does not lend itself to cooperating with a stationary cutter and has certain inherent faults, remedied by my present invention. One of the chief faults of the Hiskey construction is that of causing the beard hairs, about to be sheared, to be pressed back into the skin or bent upon themselves by reason of engagement of the beard hair ends with the portions of the lateral surface of the rotary member intermediate the ridges. In embodiments of my invention, I overcome this disadvantag by spacing my cutting element on the cutter member away from the lateral surface of the member, thereby providing room into which the beard hairs may extend freely and unbent, in the path of the cutting element.

Hence, another particular object of my invention is to provide a rotary cutter member having a cutting element and means for mounting the element on the member bearing surfaces in spaced relation to the lateral surface of the cutter member and in bridging or spanning relation to the space between adjacent ridge-like portions thereof. Thus, the interspace protruding beard hairs may extend in the path of movement of the cutting element, for shearing.

A further particular object is to provide a ro-- tary cutter member characterized by the fact that the ridge-like portions extend in helical continuity about the members lateral surface and with respect to the axis of rotation of the member. Thus, the ridge-like portions progressively feed beard hairs to the cutting element, as the member is moved translatorily over a bearded skin in directions normal to the members axis of rotation.

The invention consists in other features and advantages which will appear from the following description and upon examination of the drawing. Structures containing the invention may partake of different forms and still embody the invention. To illustrate a practical application of the invention, I have selected preferred and modified forms of a shaving mechanism as examples of the various structures and details thereof that contain the invention and shall describe the selected structures hereinafter. It is understood that variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The particular structures selected are shown in the accompanying drawing and described hereinafter.

Fig. l. of the accompanying drawing is a front view of a preferred form of embodiment of my invention with portions of the casing being shown broken away. Fig. 2 is a view, greatly enlarged, of a section on the line 2-2 indicated in Fig. 1, with portions of the casing shown intact and a portion of the cutting element shown removed. Fig. 3 is a detail view, similarly enlarged, of the rotary cutter member shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a detail enlarged view of a modified form of a rotary cutter member embodying certain features of my invention. Fig. 5 is a view partly in section of a portion of the rotary cutter member shown in Fig. 4.

The. embodiments of my invention shown in the drawing are each adapted to be driven by a small and conventional electric motor and each employ cooperating rotary and stationary cutter members. The invention, however, is not limited to any particular form of drive or stationary cutter member, but is directed, in the main, to the rotary cutter member and cutting element mounted thereon and the relation thereof to the stationary cutter member.

The motor shown receives power through electric wires I and is supported in the casing 2. The rotor of the motor is mounted upon shaft 3, journaled as at I, in casing- 2. The usual starting and stopping thumb-wheel 5 may be provided on shaft 3, in the instance that the motor is not provided with self-starting means. Also attached to the shaft 3 is bevel gear 5, indicated diagrammatically, which meshes with bevel gear I, also indicated diagrammatically, on axle 8. The axle 8 is journaled in an extension I I of casing 2. By this construction, a rotary cutter member 9, embodying my invention, mounted on and keyed to axle it may be supported for actuation in a position of convenience to the user in shaving.

The rotary cutter member 9 is a cylindrical member and preferably of small diameter. It has a plurality of ridge-like portions I3 of arcuate continuity extending coaxially about and radially projecting from axially spaced points on the lateral surface of the cutter member 9. In the preferred form shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the ridge-like portions I3 extend in helical arcuate continuity at a high axial angle around and along the members lateral surface from one to the other end thereof. In the modifiedform shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the ridge-like portions I3 extend in annular arcuate fluting-like continuity about the lateral surface of the cutter member 9.

The points on the lateral surface of the cutter member 9 from which adjacent ridge-like portions 33 project are critically spaced in embodiments ofmy invention. This spacing defines a groove or space I5- between adjacent portions I3 which, measured axially of the member, is determined by that distance or spacial relation required to allow beard hairs to project into the space I5, without permitting intrusion into such space It of skin areas immediately adjacent or remote from the bases of the beard hairs protruding into the space-as a consequence of placing the cutter member 9 against a bearded skin for shaving. Thus, adjacent portions It may be regarded as skin-bearers adapted to surface engage skin areas on opposite sides of and adjoining a skin area from which the beard hairs, protruding into beard receiving spaces It, extend. The portions I3 in engaging the adjoining skin areas tend to draw the intermediate area somewhat taut, in spanning relation to the space I5, preventing sag or fiexure of the intermediate skin area into said space. The reason for this provision will become more apparent as the description proceeds.

I have found that such spacing stated dimensionally should be of a magnitude between 0 9m inch, for best results. When the spacing is less, the beard hairs enter the space It, only with difiiculty, and when the spacing is greater, the skin will flex or wrinkle into the space.

It will be noted from the drawing that ridgelike portions it have substantially fiat crown surfaces which give increased skin traction to the mentioned adjoining skin areas and aid materially in exerting a tautening force to the intermediate skin area. The crown surfaces are preferably of a width between 5 and inch. The relations described in reference to the preferred form of my invention also exist in the modified form. shown in Figs. 4 and 5. There the portions I3 have the preferred dimensional width and are spaced on member 9' to provide space I5 of the same critical spacing and dimension between adjacent portions as that described with reference to portions IS on member 9.

In order to provide member t with cutting means, a lineal element, such as the wire I2, is mounted on the member. The wire element l2 has a sharpened lineal edge i2a in plane with the outermost lateral surface thereof as viewed in Fig. 2. The element I2 extends in helical lineal continuity at a low axial angle about an axis and radially spaced therefrom a distance substantially equal to the arcuate radius of the portions I3. Thus, the element I2 may be placed over and will substantially fit about the member 9, traversing the portions I3. As shown in Fig. 3, the element I2 has end eyes adapted to en close opposite reduced end portions I3 of memher 9 and forming parts of the means for connecting the element I2 to member d. If desired, clamping nuts II, threaded on portions I8, may be utilized to seize the end eyes of element ii.

In addition to the mentioned end eyes of element I2, the means for connecting the element I2 to the member 9 includes the provision of a bearing surface It on each adjacent ridge-like portion I3. The bearing surface It is formed by a notch in the periphery of each portion I3, which in relation to notches in adjacent portions i3 are aligned in helical sequence approximating the helical extension of the element l2, forming, in a sense, a helical groove in the peripheries of the portions l3 of low axial angle. The depth of each notch and, hence, the disposition of the bearing surface [6 provided thereby, is of critical significance in embodiments of my invention.

Stated in one way the bearing surface I6 is located a radial distance from the periphery of its respective ridge-like portion 13 less than the radial distance between such periphery and the lateral surface of the member 9, that is the bottom surface of the space l5. Thus, the bearingsurface iii of adjacent portions l3 will supportthe element l2 in spaced relation to the members lateral surface and in bridging or spanning relation to the space l5. From another standpoint, namely, that of the transverse thickness of the element [2, the bearing surface I6 is located a' radial. distance inwardly of the ridgelike portions periphery to locate the cutting edge 12a preferably in the arc and flush with the crown surface of its respective portion i3 or slightly (not in excess of inch) protruding therefrom. v

Cutter element l2 may be constructed in many ways. In the illustrated embodiment shown in Fig. 3 it is formed of elongated material, such as music wire, ground down to form edged slabs of semi-circular section or thinner with cutting edge IZa. The cutter element may be constructed quite thin and still remain strong, since it is given adjacent support in portions I3 throughout its length as described.

In constructing member 9 of Fig. 3 or the member 9' of Fig. 4, use may be made either of laminated construction in which shaped sheets i9 and 2d of suitable material are assembled in alternate sequence, or the member may be fashioned from solid material. tages of the present construction is that member 5-3 may be made from relatively soft and easily workable material upon which a cutter element of grindable and temperable material may readily be assembled for cooperation, thus joining cutting excellence with economy of manufacture.

The stationary cutter I4 and its supporting structure as illustrated herein are shown most clearly in Fig. 2. The cutter I4 is shown as being of L section, to enable it to be used in narrow situations close to the skin. In this form a shelflike blade portion 2! is joined at an angle to an upwardly-extending wall-like portion 22, the construction being mounted to rock upon projecting axles 23 at either end, the axles being journaled in end portions 24 of a removable box-like support 25. Upwardly-extending portion '22 of the cutter is pressed against by light springs 26, seated in pockets 2'! in frame extension H. Screws 28 conveniently hold support 25 in place against frame extension H. The arrangement is such that when support 25 is in place, springs 26 act to press the cutting edge of cutter i4 into sliding contact with the edge portions of cutter element l2, which cut off the beard-ends shearinglyand sweep them past cutter l4 into a debris chamber 29 behind. The action is aided by centrifugal force, which ejects the debris from the spaces I 5 into the chamber 29. Chamber 29 is formed in part by frame extension II and in part by cutter l 4 and support 25. As will be seen, by lifting away removable support 25, the cutter M is also removed and debris chamber 29 is left One of the advan-- entirely open for cleaning. The construction supplies an especially compact form of stationary cutting means that is useful in other shaving mechanisms. The invention described, however, is not dependent upon any particular form of stationary cutter, nor is it dependent upon spring means for holding the stationary and rotary cutters in shearing engagement.

In operation, the user grasping the case 2 and starting the rotor shaft 3 by spinning wheel 5, applies the rotating skin supporting member to bearded skin, preferably with a light pressure and so that member 9 extends normal to the grain of the beard, the grain of the beard being the up-down-side direction of growth on the skin. The rotation of member 9 being counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2, the ridgelike portions l3 track over the skin, marshalling the beard ends into the helical groove or spaces IE to direct them to positions where they are sheared by coaction of cutting element l2 and stationary cutter [4. The sheared end debris is then cast to the chamber 29, as heretofore explained.

By reason of the described spacial relation between adjacent ridge-like portions, only beard hair will be directed to the point of shear contact between element l2 and cutter 14, the skin being restrained from injury. Also to be noted is the fact that in the relation of cutting element I 2 and cutter M, a continued contact will be maintained uninterrupted, at advantageous shear angle.

The modified form of rotary cutter member shown in Figs. 4 and 5 has many of the features of the preferred form. The difference of the continuity of the ridge-like portions I3 in annular arcuate relation instead of helical has already *een mentioned. Further than that, the modified form has a plurality of cutting elements I2, each in the form of edged blades of different pitch of helical extension than the element I2. The blade elements l2 are preferably of regular polygonal form in transverse section, being thicker than element 12, and having a cutting edge 12a in plane with an outermost lateral surface, as viewed in Fig. 5. As a consequence the notches in portions I 3 providing bearing surfaces supporting the elements l2 are somewhat deeper in portions l3 than those in portions [3. Also, the elements I 2 have end shanks engaged by a threaded thimble ll to lock the elements onto the ends of member 9'.

In operation, however, the member 9 acts in much the same manner as that described in connection with the preferred form, except the marshalling advantage of helical extending por tions it are not obtained in the annular pol tions it andthere will be short periods of interrup-ted contact between the cutter l4 and elements l2. The cutting edges l2a, like the cutting edge I2a, are sustained in spaced rela tion to the lateral surfaces of the member 9 and to the bottoms of each of the spaces I5 to secure the same close out and room for beard extension provided in the preferred form.

While I have illustrated and described the best forms of my invention now known to me, as required by the statutes, those skilled in the art will readily understand that changes may be made in the disclosed construction without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim: 1. In a shaving mechanism employing coopcrating rotary and stationary cutters, in combination: a rotary cutting and skin-supporting member of cylindrical form having a groove extending obliquely about its periphery at a high axial angle and having a groove extending obliquely along its periphery at a low axial angle said groove crossing the groove of high angle: the groove of high angle being defined by smooth skin-supporting bearer surfaces having an aren ate concentric relation to the axis of rotation of said member and forming beard-receiving recesses below cutting level; the bearer surfaces forming skin supports limiting the entry of skin surfaces into the recesses; the groove of low angle extending from end to end of the member and having a cutter seated therein; the cutter having smooth cutting portions at least as high as the bearer surfaces, said cutting portions forming shearing edges across the recesses.

2. In a shaving mechanism employing cooperating rotary and stationary cutters, in combination: a rotary cutting and skin-supporting mei e her of cylindrical form having grooves extending obliquely about its periphery at a high axial angle and having grooves extending obliquely along its periphery at a low axial angle, said grooves crossing the grooves of high angle; the grooves high angle being defined by smooth skin-supporting bearer surfaces and forming beard-receiving recesses below cutting level; the bear r surfaces forming shin supports limiting the entry of slnn surfaces into the recesses; the grooves of 1o; angle extending from end to end of the member and having cutters seated therein; the cutters having smooth cutting portions at least as high the bearer surfaces, said cutting portions forming shearing edges across the recesses; and a stationary cutter having a smooth long edge portion in cooperating shearing contact with shearing edges.

3 In a shaving mechanism employing cooperating rotary and stationary cutters, in combination: a rotary cutting and skin-supporting member of cylindri al form having grooves extending obliquely about its periphery at a high axial angle and having grooves extending obliquely along its periphery at a low axial angle, said grooves crossing the grooves of high angle; the grooves of high angle being defined by smooth-surfaced skin-supporting bearer structure and forming beard-receiving recesses below cutting level; the bearer structure forming skin supports limiting the entryof skin surfaces into the recesses; the grooves of low angle extending from end to end of the member and having peripheral shearing cutters seated therein; the cutters having smooth peripheral portions and smooth shearing portions flush therewith; and a stationary cutter having a smooth long edge portion in cooperating shearing contact with said peripheral cutters.

4. In a shaving mechanism, a rotary cutter comprising a rotatable member of cylindrical iorm having a plurality of ridges and recesses laterally encircling the member and in alternating axial succession thcrealong and a lineally extending element having a cutting edge along its length and a plurality of surface areas at spaced points along said element length, said plurality of ridges having a bearing surface adapted to engage said element surface areas and thereby mount the element onthe member, said ridge bearing surface being radially outward of axially adjacent floor portions of the thereto adjoining recess to thereby support, when engaging said element surface areas, the portions of the element between said element surface areas in a position extending across the recesses in radially spaced relation to and above the recess floors, each of the last named ridges having a crown of continuously concentric arcuate relation to the axis of member cylindricity and radially spaced from said ridge bearing surface a distance not in excess of the element thickness in the regions of said element at which said element surface areas are located whereby the crown of each ridge extends and moves through an arc parallel to the orbit through which said element moves on rotation of the member.

5. In a shaving mechanism, the rotary cutter described in claim 4 in which each said ridge crown is a flat surface and originates on one side of said ridge bearing surface at a circumferential point on the member substantially coincident with the disposition of the element cutting edge when the said ridge bearing surface engages said element surface area in mounting the element on the member whereby said ridge crown surface limits engagement of the element cutting edge in the region of element and ridge engagement.

6. In a shaving mechanism, the rotary cutter described in claim 5 in which said element also has a rear edge and in which each said ridge crown surface terminates on the other side of said ridge bearing surface at a circumferential point substantially coincident with the disposition of said rear edge of the element when the said ridge bearing surface engages said element surface area in mounting the element on the member whereby said ridge substantially encloses the element in the region of element and ridge engagement.

'7. In a shaving mechanism, the rotary cutter described in claim 6 in which said element has a face extending between said cutting and rear edges thereof and in which the originating and terminating points of said ridge crown surfaces circumferentially adjoining said ridge bearing surface are circumferentially spaced a distance substantially equal to that through which said element face extends between said element edges whereby said element face circumferentially joins the points of origin and termination of said ridge crown surfaces on opposite sides of said ridge bearing surface in a concentric arcuate continuity when the surface area of said element engages said ridge bearing surface.

8. In a shaving mechanism, the rotary cutter described in claim 4 in which said plurality of ridges and recesses are of a helical continuity with respect to the axis of cylindricity of said member.

9. In a shaving mechanism, the rotary cutter described in claim 8 in which said element is of ical continuity with respect to the axis of cylindricity of said member.

10. In a shaving mechanism, the rotary cutter described in claim 9 in which the helical continuity of the element is at a steeper pitch relative to the axis of member cylindricity than the pitch of helical continuity of said plurality of ridges and recesses with respect to said axis.

11. In a shaving mechanism, the rotary cutter described in claim 4 in which said ridges are axially spaced from each other a distance between A and 9 inches measured axially of said member and each ridge crown is a flat surface measuring axially of said member between and inches.

12. In a shaving mechanism, the rotary cutter described in claim 4 in which the ridge crown is radially spaced from said ridge bearing surface a distance substantially equal to and not less than .002 inches less than the thickness of the element in the regions of the element surface areas whereby said element cutting edge will be supported substantially flush with and not more than .002 inches radially outward of the ridge crown.

13. In a shaving mechanism, the rotary eutter described in claim 4 in which said element comprises a wire having a sharp lineally extending edge with an arcuate flat side and an opposite rounded side, said element surface areas being band-like areas occurring at spaced points along and on said rounded side, said ridge bearing surface being of a mating contour and dimension with said element surface areas whereby the element in effect fits on and into the ridges of the member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,033,321 Hiskey July 23, 1912 10 1,981,202 Shipman Nov. 20, 1934 2,367,686 Neidig Jan. 23, 1945 2,524,822 Neidig Oct. 10, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 15 Number Country Date 638,259 France Feb. 14, 1928 

